The present invention relates to a method for operating a RF communication device, a RF communication device (400), a method for operating an authentication server of a network entity and to corresponding computer programs. All aspects of the present invention take into account that a continuous operation of a RF communication device, in particular of a metering application, needs to be ensured, even if the function of a component SIM or initial SIM (410) has to be replaced or supplemented by an external new SIM (420). It is suggested to ascertain the validity of the external SIM by using information stored in the component/initial SIM. The validity of the external SIM can be ascertaining either solely on the side of the RF communication device or by sending a corresponding validity check request signal to a remote network entity.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A method for operating a RF communication device, comprising operating the RF communication device using a first authentication module, which comprises a first processor and a first memory storing first subscriber information suitable for authenticating and identifying a first subscriber on a first RF communication network, detecting an operative connection of the RF communication device to a connectable second authentication module, which comprises a second memory storing second subscriber information suitable for authenticating and identifying either the first or the second subscriber on either the first RF communication network or on a second RF communication network, reading the second subscriber information from the second authentication module, ascertaining whether the second subscriber information fulfills a predetermined validity criterion if the validity criterion is fulfilled by the second subscriber information, operating the RF communication device using the second authentication module either in addition to using the first authentication module or without using the first authentication module and if the validity criterion is not fulfilled by the second subscriber information, continuing operation of the RF communication device using the first authentication module.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein ascertaining whether the second subscriber information stored on the second authentication module fulfills the predetermined validity criterion is performed by executing, either on the first processor or on a third processor arranged in the RF communication device, a first executable code.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein ascertaining whether the second subscriber information stored on the second authentication module fulfills the predetermined validity criterion comprises comparing a first predetermined part of the first subscriber information stored on the first subscriber authentication module with a second predetermined part of the second subscriber information read from the second authentication module.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein ascertaining whether the information stored on the second authentication module fulfills the predetermined validity criterion is performed by sending a request for checking fulfillment of the validity criterion via the first RF communication network to a remote network entity, the request including the first subscriber information and the second subscriber information read from the second authentication module and receiving a response from the remote network entity including information on fulfillment of the validity criterion from the remote network entity.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein ascertaining whether the second subscriber information stored on the second authentication module fulfills the predetermined validity criterion comprises identifying a validity information element stored in the second memory of the second authentication module.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein reading the second subscriber information stored on the second authentication module is performed by either the third processor of the RF communication device or by the first processor of the first authentication module, executing a second executable code.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein operating the RF communication device using the second authentication module is performed with a time limit, and wherein the RF communication is operated using the first authentication module again after the time limit has elapsed.
8. The method of claim 1 , comprising, if the validity criterion is not fulfilled by the second subscriber information, sending a message to the remote network entity, the message including information about invalidity of the second subscriber information according to the predetermined validity criterion.
9. The method of claim 1 , comprising, if the validity criterion is not fulfilled by the second subscriber information, generating, at a user interface of the RF communication device, an output indicating invalidity of the second subscriber information according to the predetermined validity criterion.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein upon beginning operation of the RF communication device using the second authentication module an information message documenting the change of authentication module usage is transmitted to a remote network entity.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second subscriber information comprises an information element indicating whether or not the second subscriber information shall be used with priority over the first subscriber information, and wherein, upon ascertaining that the validity criterion is fulfilled, the RF communication device is operated using the second authentication module without using the first authentication module.
12. A RF communication device configured to operate using a first authentication module, which comprises a first processor and a first memory storing first subscriber information suitable for authenticating and identifying a first subscriber on a first RF communication network, the RF communication device comprising: a detector configured to detect an operative connection of the RF communication device to a connectable second authentication module, which comprises a second memory storing second subscriber information suitable for authenticating and identifying either the first or the second subscriber on either the first RF communication network or on a second RF communication network, a reading unit configured to read the second subscriber information from the second authentication module and a checking unit configured to ascertain whether the second subscriber information fulfills a predetermined validity criterion, wherein the RF communication device is configured to operate using the second authentication module either in addition to using the first authentication module or without using the first authentication module, if the validity criterion is fulfilled by the second subscriber information, and if the validity criterion is not fulfilled by the second subscriber information, continuing operation of the RF communication device using the first authentication module.
13. At least one memory configured to store a computer program for operating a RF communication device, the computer program comprising program code means for causing the RF communication device to carry out the steps of the method as defined in claim 1 , when the computer program is run on a computer controlling the RF communication device.
14. A method for operating an authentication server of a network entity of a RF communication network, the method comprising: storing authentication information in an authentication memory of the authentication server, receiving an electronic change request signal sent by a RF communication device being operated by a method according to claim 1 , the electronic change request signal including the second subscriber information, ascertaining whether the second subscriber information complies with the stored authentication information and causing transmission of an electronic validation response signal to the RF communication device in dependence of the ascertaining step.
15. At least one memory configured to store a computer program for operating an authentication server of a RF communication network, the computer program comprising program code means for causing the authentication server to carry out the steps of the method as defined in claim 14 , when the computer program is run on a computer controlling the authentication server.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
June 7, 2012
September 2, 2014
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